Renault Revived the R8 Gordini as a Tiny Electric Coupe — But You Can’t Buy It

The old Renault 8 Gordini had four doors, a rear-mounted engine, and a reputation for making winding roads interesting. Renault’s latest interpretation keeps almost none of that formula. The new R8 Gordini Concept is a tiny two-seat electric coupe, but it still wears the blue-and-white colors and visual tricks that made the original “La Gorde” so recognizable.

At 162 inches long, 74 inches wide, and only 50 inches tall, the concept has a squat, almost toy-like stance.

The body is covered in carbon fiber and sits on 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels, with wide square fenders, a roof spoiler, and flying buttresses behind the cabin. Six round LED headlights sit across the grille-less nose, while the rear lights disappear into the body when they are switched off. The white stripes running over the blue body leave little doubt about the car’s inspiration.

Renault takes the same approach inside, but the cabin is arguably even more interesting. Instead of filling the dashboard with screens, the designers install six round dials with chunky bezels on a brushed aluminum panel. There are physical switches on the center console, along with Alcantara and black-and-blue corduroy bucket seats. It feels deliberately old-school, despite the fact that an electric motor sits underneath it.

That motor drives the rear wheels and produces 266 hp. Renault hasn’t revealed the battery capacity, range, or acceleration figures, so there’s no way to tell how quick the concept actually is. What we do know is that the original 8 Gordini had almost twice the power of the standard Renault 8, along with a lowered suspension and upgraded brakes. 

More than 300 sketches reportedly came out of Renault’s design studio during the project. Sadly, none of them will turn into a showroom car: Renault confirms the R8 Gordini Concept is a one-off. It will appear at Renault Carwalk before heading to the Paris Motor Show, then eventually to the Renault Collections museum in Flins. Some of its design ideas could influence future Renaults, but this particular little blue coupe is staying on the show stand.